Romans 15:22-33 - To Spain

Romans 15:22-33 (KJV)
²² For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.
²³ But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;
²⁴ Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.
²⁵ But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
²⁶ For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
²⁷ It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
²⁸ When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.
²⁹ And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
³⁰ Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
³¹ That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;
³² That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
³³ Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Next, Paul explained that he had been hindered from coming to the believers in Rome because of his desire to complete his mission of spreading the Gospel in the eastern Mediterranean area (verse 22). But now, because he felt his mission in the east was "done," and because he had felt a great desire for many years to go to Rome, he was going to do so (verse 23). He would come first to Rome and then continue on to Spain where he could spread the Gospel to those who had not yet heard (verse 24). Certainly, he would see the Roman believers on that journey and they would see him onward. But first, he wanted to be filled with the Roman believers' company. Paul's visit wouldn't necessarily be short, but would provide a starting place for his journey into Spain.

However, he was first going to go to Jerusalem to minister to the saints (verse 25). Macedonia and Achaia had collected contributions for the poor saints in Jerusalem that Paul would deliver (verse 26). They were cheerful givers because they felt they owed a debt to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem (27). Just as the Jewish believers shared their spiritual blessings, the Gentile believers would share their material blessings with the Jerusalem believers. Once Paul had carried out his delivery he would come to Rome (verse 28). He was sure that in going to Rome God's blessings were upon him (verse 29).

Paul asked the Roman believers to pray for him (verse 30). He specifically asked for prayer regarding his delivery from those in Judea that did not believe in Messiah Yeshua (verse 31). He also asked for prayer that the Jerusalem believers would accept the contributions that he brought to them. Paul lastly asked for prayer that he would come to the Roman believers with joy and that both he and the believers would be refreshed (verse 32). Paul ended by blessing his readers by asking the God of peace to be with them. (verse 33).